Tournament heartbreak: Baylor pushes past Houston in Big 12 quarterfinals

No. 8 Baylor, the third seed in the Big 12 tournament, and No. 25 Houston, the sixth seed, competed for the second time in four days. The Bears once again beat the Cougars 1-0 in the quarterfinals on Monday night in Mansfield, Texas, thanks to a long-range screamer from fifth-year defender and captain Natalie Vatter.

It was the Cougars’ first Big 12 tournament appearance in school history.

Baylor now advances to the semifinals for the third straight year. This is also its ninth win against Houston in 11 matchups.

Houston had a big opportunity in the 81st minute when sophomore forward Bailey Cate had the ball near Baylor’s six-yard box, but put her shot wide left. Nearly a minute later, Vatter, who made the All-Big 12 second team, whipped in a high cross that found the top center of the net for Baylor’s winning goal.

The Cougars outshot the Bears nine to six. Baylor thought they had the lead in the 32nd minute, when freshman midfielder Brynnlee Bohannon seemed to score before a foul was called.

Fifth-year goalkeeper and All-Big 12 first team selection Azul Alvarez got to work early with three saves in the first 45 minutes.

The Bears thought they had their go-ahead goal in the 63rd minute when junior defender Sydney Miller drove the ball towards Houston’s penalty area, before slipping a pass to senior forward Kate Runyon. Runyon unleashed a powerful shot past junior goalkeeper Sierra McCluer, but was called offside.

Timing of runs was a bigger issue for the Cougars, who were called offside four times.

Exactly one minute later, Runyon launched another shot at McCluer, who finished with three saves. The Cougars looked to send the game to overtime after Vater’s goal, but despite outshooting the Bears 15-11 and recording seven corners, their late-game efforts came up short.

Baylor will now take on No. 9 (2) Texas Tech in the semis on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m., while Houston, likely to make the NCAA Tournament as an at-large bid, will learn its fate at the Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m.